Office: Anna 0410 506 709, Peter: 0415 263 750 (24/7), Caroline: 0415 940 939, Landline: 02 4997 8183, Email Contact: info@epirbhire.com.au

 A quick comparison between phones.

Please note these phones communicate with Satellites, that are moving very fast and/or are a long way away. They don't work as well as your mobile. 

   

                               
Out going call cost per minute.  $2 to $3 within Aust. $4 to $5 international  approx $1.50 to any mobile or landline globally
Out going SMS (email)

.99c

 .75c
Incoming call cost to caller (see note #1.) same as a normal mobile within Aust. don't call it - $12 to $15 per minute
Incoming email facility (160 characters max.) not available - Out going only. yes - 87077642xxxx@message.inmarsat.com
Coverage (effective) global (struggles near equator ie PNG highlands) global - except the polar regions
Satellite coverage overview polar orbiting - more spread out near equator fixed location 35,000km above PNG
Coverage expectations...... with orbiting Satellites your handset is looking for a moving target, if you are in a valley, it will block the signal for undefined periods. It will work if you can see the Satellite, in central NSW it is approx 50 degrees up in the Nth East.
Reception is consistent.
GPS positioning and tracking Yes 9575 only Yes - an excellent facility
What we like..... Incoming calls are very cheap. External magnetic antenna works well. Outgoing calls are cheap, GPS, email works well
What we don't like...... In hills the reception issues can be frustrating, this gets worse as you get closer to the equator  The further south you go the lower the satellite. Hobart 40 degrees.
Reception bottom line The Satellites are moving, so you don't know where to stand, you just need to see as much of the sky as possible. You know where the satellite is so you just have to get into that spot... PNG excellent - Tasmania get a bit harder.
Review the Iridium 9575 click here ... ...
Hire a Satellite phone Hire the Iridium Satellite phone click here Hire the Isatphone Pro. Click here
Buy a Satellite phone click here    

We are currently testing one of only a handful of Thuraya SatSleeve in Australia, EPIRBhire know more about the Thuraya SatSleeve than any other dealer in the country. We will report soon or call peter for more details.

Note #1. The reality is that you don't leave a satellite phone on in the same way that you would a normal mobile. 
Therefore you rarely get incoming calls. Ideally have people contact you through SMS/email.

Is the Iridium a better option over Inmarsat?


Inmarsat is one of the world's largest satellite phone companies. http://www.inmarsat.com/


Is Inmarsat a better  option over Iridium?

Emergency Numbers to use when calling from the isatPhone (000 & 112 do not work)

Australian Rescue Coordination Centre (AMSA) in Canberra (24Hrs) +61 2 6230 6811

Royal Flying Doctor Service.
    - Emergency Numbers (24 Hour Medical & Emergency calls)
    - Western Operations WA (24 Hour Medical & Emergency calls) +61 8 9417 6389
    - Central Operations SA & NT* Port Augusta Base +61 8 8648 9555 (note *NT everything south of Tennant Creek)
    - Queensland Section
            Charleville Base +61 7 4654 1443; Mt Isa Base +61 7 4743 2802; Cairns Base +61 7 4040 0500
    - South Eastern Section NSW, VIC, TAS Broken Hill Base +61 8 8088 1188

Poison Information Centre +61 13 11 26 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Contact Details:
Office call Anna 0410 506 709
Yachting and technical enquiries call Peter 0415 263 750 (available 24/7) 
Accounts call Caroline - 0415 940 939 
Landline +61 (0)2 4997 8183 

Offices - SYDNEY, NEWPORT NSW, MANLY NSW, BULAHDELAH NSW.
Email Contact: info@epirbhire.com.au